Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour

Faxaflói Bay gives you two very different views of Iceland in one day. In daylight, you search for minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and harbor porpoises. After dark, you leave Reykjavik’s city glow behind and scan the sky for the Northern Lights. I especially like the two separate boat trips and the practical comfort of heated indoor seating and warm overalls.

The main drawback is simple: nature sets the schedule. You may see whales but no aurora, or a bright sky but few animals. At $212 per person, this is good value only if you want both experiences and have a full day to give them, not if you are seeking a guaranteed wildlife show.

Key points to know before booking

• Two bay cruises in one day: A roughly three-hour whale watching trip runs during daylight, followed by an evening Northern Lights cruise.
• Wildlife to watch for: Minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises are the main possibilities.
• Comfort matters at sea: Heated indoor seats, warm overalls in adult and children’s sizes, and an onboard bar help with Iceland’s cold conditions.
• Good city views on the way out: On a clear day, you may see Reykjavik, surrounding mountains, and even Snæfells Glacier.
• A free second chance for the aurora: If no Northern Lights appear, you receive a free ticket to try that part again.
• Easy central meeting point: You meet at the Special Tours office by Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, but hotel pickup and parking at the office are not provided.

Why combine whales and the aurora in one Reykjavik day?

Iceland offers no shortage of natural sights, but whale watching and the Northern Lights require very different conditions. The whale trip needs daylight and time on the water. The aurora needs darkness, clear enough skies, and solar activity. Combining them saves you from booking two unrelated outings and gives your day a clear rhythm: sea life first, sky watching later.

The seven-hour duration is substantial. This is not a quick harbor ride with a short evening add-on. You spend about three hours on the daytime cruise, then return for the night trip. That makes the tour a sensible choice if you have limited time in Reykjavik and want to cover two major Iceland experiences without arranging separate transport.

Still, do not treat the package as a guarantee of two big sightings. Whales move through the bay on their own schedule, and auroras can remain hidden even when the forecast looks promising. The free retry applies when the Northern Lights are not seen, which softens the risk, but it cannot change your available vacation days.

Meeting the boat at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

You begin at the Special Tours office by the Old Harbour. Look for the large, dark-grey building with blue signs and the company name and logo. The location is close to central Reykjavik, making it practical if you are already staying in the city center.

You need to arrange your own way there. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. If you drive, allow an extra 15 minutes to find nearby parking, since parking is not available at the tour company’s premises.

That small timing detail matters. A harbor departure is less forgiving than a city walking tour. Arrive early enough to locate the office, check in, and get ready without rushing. The tour is in English, with a live guide on both boat trips.

The daytime cruise across Faxaflói Bay

The whale watching section lasts about three hours. The boat takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes to reach the main whale watching area, so the opening part of the cruise gives you time to settle in and watch Reykjavik recede behind you.

Bring your camera outside during this stretch. The bay offers broad views of the city, nearby mountains, and the open water. On a clear day, the view may reach as far as Snæfells Glacier in western Iceland. That long-distance view is a useful reminder that this outing is not only about spotting an animal. The setting itself is part of the experience.

Once the boat reaches the whale watching area, your guide helps you search the water. The guide explains what to look for and helps direct your attention when something surfaces. That support is valuable because a whale’s appearance can be brief, and an experienced eye may notice a fin or blow before you do.

The species listed for this bay include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Each offers a different kind of sighting. A minke may appear as a quick dark back. A humpback can make a larger, more dramatic impression. Dolphins and porpoises may be harder to follow, but several animals moving together can make the water suddenly feel busy.

Recent outings have included close views of both humpback and minke whales. One especially strong account describes the boat getting very close to the whales, while another notes several humpbacks. You should take those as signs of what can happen, not as a promise for your departure. Wild animals do not perform on cue.

What the guide and captain add to the whale trip

The guide’s role is more than naming species. The guide watches the water, points out positions, and explains marine life as the boat moves. Sonia gave particular credit to Rebekka, who was quick to flag each whale and explain the ocean life around it.

That kind of direction can make a real difference. Without it, you may spend the whole cruise staring at empty water and then miss the one animal that surfaces behind you. With a guide calling out positions, you have a better chance of turning at the right moment and understanding what you are seeing.

The captain also affects the quality of the outing. Sonia described the captain as reactive to the boat’s movement, which is important when the water changes or a whale appears nearby. A well-handled boat can position passengers for a better view while keeping the ride controlled.

The boat itself has received praise for being well maintained and a good size. You can move around between indoor and outdoor areas, which helps when one side of the boat offers the better view. Keep in mind that conditions on Faxaflói Bay can change. Even with a comfortable boat, you are still spending hours on open water.

Warm seating, overalls, and the reality of Icelandic weather

The tour provides heated indoor seating and warm overalls, including children’s sizes. These are not minor extras. You may want to watch from outside when a whale is near, then return indoors to warm up while the boat travels to the next viewing area.

The overalls also make it easier to dress for the day. You should still bring suitable cold-weather clothing, but the provided outer layer gives you an added barrier against wind and spray. The ability to shift between inside and outside lets you stay with the activity longer instead of retreating from the cold after a few minutes.

The boat has free Wi-Fi, so you can share photos or keep in touch during the cruise. An always-open bar sells drinks, though drinks are not included in the price. The useful point is not luxury. It is flexibility: you can warm up, buy a drink, check your phone, and then head outside again when the guide spots activity.

Returning after dark for the Northern Lights

After the daytime whale trip, you return for the evening cruise. The boat heads just outside Reykjavik city center, where the water offers a darker setting than the streets and buildings on land.

That change in surroundings helps, but it does not guarantee an aurora. The Northern Lights depend on conditions beyond the company’s control. The tour operates through the winter months and may also offer sightings as early as September, but darkness alone is not enough. Clouds, solar activity, and visibility all matter.

The boat’s open and indoor areas let you choose how to watch. You can step outside for the clearest sky view, then return to the heated cabin when the cold catches up with you. Put on the supplied overalls before leaving the harbor, since waiting until you feel cold usually means you are already uncomfortable.

A February outing produced an especially powerful aurora display, with the lights becoming unexpectedly active after a quiet start. That is part of the appeal of an evening cruise: the sky can change quickly. The captain and crew also have some flexibility in choosing where to go on the bay, which may help the boat find a darker or clearer patch of sky.

But keep your expectations sensible. You may see faint color, a strong display, or nothing at all. If no Northern Lights appear, the included free ticket lets you try again. Check the terms when booking, since the retry is useful only if your schedule allows another evening.

How much value do you get for $212?

At $212 per person, this is a serious addition to an Iceland budget. The price makes the most sense if you would otherwise book a whale watching trip and a Northern Lights cruise separately. You get two guided boat outings, heated seating, Wi-Fi, warm overalls, and the possibility of a free aurora retry.

You also avoid spending time arranging separate harbor departures. That convenience has real value in Reykjavik, especially during a short stay. The tour gives you one organized day built around two major natural sights.

The value drops if you care much more about one activity than the other. If whales are your main goal, a dedicated daytime whale trip may be a better fit. If the aurora is your priority, you may prefer a plan that gives you several evenings of flexibility instead of tying the sky watch to one long combined outing.

You should also account for food and drinks, since they are not listed as included. Hotel transport is not included either. Those costs are not large compared with the tour price, but they affect the total day.

The pace of a seven-hour outing

Seven hours is long enough to feel like a major part of your Reykjavik visit. The schedule works best when you plan a lighter morning or evening around it. After three hours on the water, you may want time to rest before returning for the night cruise.

The gap between the two trips is not described in detail, so check the exact departure times before booking. You need to know how much time you have between cruises and how the schedule fits with meals, other reservations, and your accommodation.

The long format can be a plus. You are not being rushed from one brief attraction to another, and both the bay and the sky get proper time. It can also feel demanding if sea conditions are rough or if you are not comfortable spending much of the day outside the city.

Families can benefit from the heated cabin and child-sized overalls. The day remains weather dependent, though, and younger children may find the long duration tiring. The central meeting point and lack of hotel pickup mean that adults must also manage the return after dark.

What the rating and mixed outcomes really mean

The overall score is 4.2 from 55 ratings, which points to a generally strong experience with some natural variation. The most praised elements are the boat, the guides, the captain’s handling, and the chance to see whales close to the vessel.

Several outings produced both humpback and minke sightings. Rebekka received specific praise for spotting whales quickly and explaining marine life clearly. The Northern Lights section has also produced a memorable display, especially on a February trip when the aurora became highly active.

The weak outcome is equally important. One April departure saw neither a satisfying aurora nor strong whale activity. That is not necessarily a service failure. It shows the central risk of booking two wildlife-based experiences on one date: both depend on nature.

I would book this with the right mindset. You are paying for time on the water, skilled guidance, equipment, and a chance to see wildlife and the aurora. You are not buying a guaranteed whale breach or a curtain of green light.

Who should book this combined cruise?

I would recommend it to you if:

• You have one open day in Reykjavik and want to cover both activities.
• You enjoy being on the water and can handle a long, weather-dependent outing.
• You value a guide who helps you spot animals rather than simply cruising without commentary.
• You want the comfort of heated seats, supplied overalls, indoor space, and an onboard bar.
• You can return for a second aurora attempt if the first evening is cloudy or inactive.
• You prefer one organized booking to arranging separate whale and Northern Lights trips.

I would think twice if you have only one night in Iceland and need a guaranteed highlight. I would also reconsider if you dislike cold boat rides, have a tight schedule, or want to focus on land-based sightseeing around Reykjavik.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if the combination is the point. The appeal is not just seeing whales or chasing the aurora. It is experiencing Faxaflói Bay twice, first as a broad daylight setting with Reykjavik and the mountains around you, then as a darker platform for sky watching.

The strongest reasons to choose it are the well-equipped boat, useful guide support, warm clothing, and the included second chance for an unsuccessful aurora trip. The biggest caution is the $212 cost and the fact that nature may give you only one of the two headline sights.

For a short Iceland visit, I think this is a sensible use of a day if you accept uncertainty and can fit the seven-hour schedule. If your budget is tight, book only if you truly want both experiences. If the price feels high for a maybe, choose a single activity and leave more room in your itinerary for changing weather.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Reykjavik?

You meet at the Special Tours office by Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The building is large and dark grey, with blue signs showing the company name and logo.

How long does the combined tour last?

The full experience lasts about seven hours. The daytime whale watching cruise takes approximately three hours, followed by the evening Northern Lights cruise.

What animals might I see on the whale watching trip?

You might see minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises in Faxaflói Bay.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You need to make your own way to the Special Tours office at the Old Harbour.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. The boat also has heated indoor seating.

Is Wi-Fi available onboard?

Yes. Free onboard Wi-Fi is included on the boats.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to try the Northern Lights trip again if no aurora is seen on your tour.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.